"Teacher Zhang, everything has two sides. Don't just focus on feeling anxious because you're getting too much attention."
"Attention is also a manifestation of capability."
"Look, if Teacher Zhang can organize these students who pay attention to you and love you, and have them learn the knowledge you teach."
"Imagine, wouldn't they also work harder? This is called the what, beauty effect!"
Chen Yang tried to improve Zhang Yingying's perspective. The most important thing was her own mindset. If she felt good about it, there would be no problem.
However, Chen Yang wasn't speaking without reason. So many students in later generations didn't like attending classes, often skipping them to play games or sleep in their dorms.
How many university professors tried their best to get these students to listen attentively, but ultimately lost to those beautiful female teachers.
Once they stood on stage, not only did the students from their own school attend classes actively, but even when videos were uploaded online, many lecherous old men would flock to the school to audit classes.
Beautiful women, especially exceptionally beautiful ones, could always attract the attention of both men and women. This was a gift from heaven, something to be envied.
"Lead students to study knowledge diligently?"
Hearing Chen Yang's words, Zhang Yingying, who had been somewhat helpless, felt as if a window had suddenly opened in her mind.
The students' intense focus on her had troubled her, as she felt her presence was somehow affecting their normal studies.
But what if she used the students' admiration for her to rally them and lead them in studying together?
Wouldn't that make a difference!
The fervent way some students looked at her flashed through Zhang Yingying's mind, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
It appeared she wasn't so useless, and she wasn't just disrupting students' studies.
"Then tell me, if I lead them in studying, will they still have the same enthusiasm as they do now?"
The thought of those students shouting their vows to defend Teacher Zhang made Zhang Yingying's face flush with heat.
She would be a good teacher too, wouldn't she?
...
Days passed one by one, and the rumors about Zhang Yingying and Chen Yang gradually faded into oblivion.
Zhang Yingying held a public lecture on music. She herself was a level 10 pianist, and she gave two public lectures every week, which were always packed.
In no time, the entire Huadong University of Finance and Economics became one of the schools with the most music-loving students. This also unintentionally laid the foundation for Huadong University of Finance and Economics to win first place in the Shanghai University Student Music Competition the following year.
Zhang Yingying knew her academic qualifications were not sufficient to teach these university students. Therefore, she only taught what she was good at – piano, and basic music theory.
Music, in ancient times, was one of the Six Arts for gentlemen: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics, with music ranking second. Although the saying "mastering science and math, and you can go anywhere without fear" had become popular, learning music was also an excellent way to cultivate one's temperament for students.
Dancing in one's area of expertise was a very happy thing, at least that's what Zhang Yingying believed.
Seeing the classrooms filled with students every time during this period, she felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Although she came from a privileged family, she grew up in a very strict household. Her parents had high expectations of her, and no matter how well she did, her parents only considered it what she was supposed to achieve.
Even her piano level 10, which she was most proud of, was nothing to boast about in their eyes.
But in the eyes of these diligent students who were full of admiration for her, she saw respect and her own value.
She was increasingly falling in love with this job. Every time she happily started a class, she would think of Chen Yang.
This guy not only had a business acumen for running enterprises but was also very insightful in his perspective on matters.
Zhang Yingying's perception of Chen Yang was subtly changing, but Chen Yang, the instigator, was unaware of it. He was busy choosing furniture.
"Da Biao, be careful with that vase, don't break it. This is Yuan blue and white porcelain. If it breaks, it'll be like stabbing me in the heart."
"Boss, I understand. Don't worry, you can smash me, but you can't smash this vase."
Almost a month had passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Yang could only come out on Sundays to spend time with his wife and children. There was no concept of a two-day weekend in China at this time.
One day off per week was a privilege enjoyed only by government employees, state-owned enterprise workers, and students.
The renovation was proceeding in an orderly manner under the arrangement of Assistant Officer Xiao Zhou. Chen Yang came on Sundays to give his opinions, and the renovation team would modify them accordingly.
A few days ago, he had Wang Baolin, a local Shanghainese, take him to antique markets to treasure hunt.
The antique market had not yet recovered from the impact of the turmoil a few years prior.
Many antiques were either confiscated, smashed, and burned during the movement, or hidden deeply by those who recognized their value. Of course, some were used by those who didn't know their worth as pickle jars or troughs in stables...
Chen Yang acquired this pair of Yuan blue and white porcelain from two old farmers for only twenty yuan.
Chen Yang didn't know if these were genuine articles, as he hadn't learned to identify antiques in his previous life.
However, there weren't many people selling aged antiques at this time, and for twenty yuan, even if they were fake, Chen Yang wouldn't lose much.
If they were real, he would have made a fortune.
Looking at the newly renovated villa, the courtyard was already filled with transplanted flowers, plants, and trees. The two little ones were running happily in the yard.
Laughter and joy filled the entire courtyard. A month ago, it was a barren land overgrown with weeds, but now it was teeming with life.
"Wife, do you like our new home?"
Chen Yang hugged Shen Xue's waist. After nearly three months of recovery, Shen Xue's waist had returned to its slender figure, with no sign of the post-pregnancy bloat.
Little Chen Peng was becoming more and more adorable, with his chubby cheeks, making Chen Yang always want to pinch his little fat face.
He was plump and bouncy, exuding a milky fragrance. The elderly neighbors who lived nearby would always come to hold Shen Xue's child whenever she brought him to see the house.
"I like it. The courtyard is designed beautifully. I used to think this courtyard was only good for growing vegetables, but I didn't expect it to look so nice with flowers and plants."
Shen Xue and Chen Yang stood on the balcony of the second floor, overlooking the courtyard, which was incredibly beautiful.
"It will be even more beautiful next spring when the flowers bloom. There will be bees collecting nectar from the vibrant flowers. When you open the window, the fragrance of flowers will waft in, and I'm sure you'll love it."
No woman dislikes flowers. Chen Yang wanted Shen Xue to experience the beauty of opening her window to a sea of flowers and the warmth of spring.